Thursday, September 4, 2008

Emergency Equipment for Disasters and Offroad


If you have an H2 with the Adventure Package you have a built in air pump from the factory that can inflate your tires or just about anything else. It also comes with a fine factory tool kit. The H1 owner is even more fortunate since he can change his tire pressure while he's driving. It doesn't hurt to carry a can or two of tire seal for those times offroad when you catch a cactus thorn.

Running your battery down in a disaster or offroad can be life threatening. I always carry a Mighty Mite http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1402194 under the back seat. If you have an H1 with the 24v system instead of the 12v, Sunnen Enterprises makes a nice 24v Start It designed for diesel engines, but it's twice the size of the Mighty Mite, weighs 33 pounds and seven times the expense.

In my offroading experience no battery will hold a charge, take a pounding or keep working under water like the Optima Red Top. They are expensive, but in a class by themselves. These batteries are in all Canadian Yukon rescue vehicles.
http://www.apexbattery.com/car-batteries-optima-batteries-optima-redtop-batteries--starter-.html

Another handy item for the Hummer owner that doesn't drive his vehicle every day is the battery tender. Just clip it onto the battery in the garage and forget about it. It won't overcharge and I leave mine on 24/7. You can find some great buys on them on Ebay.
http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_fromZR46?_nkw=battery+tender&_fromfsb=0&_trksid=m270.l1313
Of course any Hummer owner worth his salt carries duct tape. I've used it to patch a blown radiator hose, keep together a cracked side window, or hold on a brush guard, knocked loose offroading.I also carry a spare engine accessory belt and spare fuses under the back seat.

I know I carry more tools than I should, but when you need one, and there is no one around, or you are 50 miles from the nearest road and out of cell phone range, having a vice grips or pinch nosed pliers can be priceless. For offroading & winter jaunts, I also carry a small signalling mirror, a blanket and a candle in an old tin can. My Hummer has Nav, but I also like the Garmin hand held 2345 GPS, in case you have to set off on foot for help. These are coming down in price every month, and very affordable.

Finally, two large emergency bottles of water, & a first aid kit are necessities for offroading and disasters. The human body can go a long time without food, but not very long without water.
http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/how-long-can-you-survive-without-water/
First Aid kits are one area where you can't beat the prices on Ebay. I carry a Swiss Army Emergency First Aid Kit in my Hummer all the time that I got on Ebay for $25 dollars that sells for $140 retail. If you are a serious offroader, you need to carry a First Aid Kit!


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